Was this the best show I ever saw, hard to tell, probably not, I had no reference to base it on. It was my very first show, 15 years old and this was the day I hoped on the bus and have never ever looked back.

Based on my perspective now, this was a very good show. And it is also my one and only Donna and Keith show. I'm giving it five stars as this show helped define a very significant portion of my life.

It's interesting seeing Mr. Miller praising this 2nd set so highly...It's good, no question....Donna certainly gets her Yoko Ono on during Scarlet (I mean, *really*). The entire thing sounds really, really competent; the PA problems of the previous night easily make this one the better of the two and an overall keeper.

Also, is this the one where Jerry got the death threats? And was it also this one where Jer screamed, "WHERE'S MY BINDLE??!?!?" into the PA after the show ended?

I've never understood what that whole, "Keith copied Jerry in the late 70's" thing is about. I've never heard it. Seemed to me Keith was mostly about pounding out chords or just laying in fills during this time. Anyway, his play is the least important here. Jerry playing so well, Bob adding snappy counterpoint rhythms, Phil's nimble bass fingering, the drummers in lockstep, all make this show some exciting listening. 1/2 Step will quickly become one of my favorites (although Landover 78 is still tops), Lazy>Supp is always delightful, and the Scarlet>Fire is exceptional. The sound is OK, somewhat better than the other version. Not an all-timer, but a fun show nonetheless.

Really hot Samson! Otherwise a fun, standard show.

This was an exciting concert. Franklin's Brown Eyed Scarlet Fire The Othe One Wharf Rat are scintillating..

A week after the well-known closing of Winterland show. This is a makeup date from December 1. Ten shows were canceled after the 11/24 Capitol Theatre date (where Jer was sick but left it all on stage, giving a terrific show); which meant going out right after NYE. Traders used to call these "the makeup shows" and as such they had a special connotation - which beyond that novelty may not be wholly deserved since, as a whole, they don't clearly stand above other '78/'79 tours. Jer's voice was back - though still not wholly - but more historically, these were the first shows at MSG, the one venue every band wants to book in their career. They would eventually play it 52 times, of which all but a few were sellouts. More recently the show was spotlit after Charlie Miller cited it as fave. As others have noted, it's not entirely clear why, though as far as '79 pre-Brent, it's certainly above average overall (with some real highlights and a solid 2nd set).

First Set. A packed set, starting solid enough, then dipping for Bobby's Slide Practice™ in Minglewood. Candyman is an average rendering but the middle of the set has a peak for Me & My Uncle>Big River. I can never get over how different M&MUs can be, and there are phrases in Jer's 2nd solo for River that I can scarcely believe. Friend is nicely done, as is It's All Over Now. It's interesting that the Dead were Stones fans and covered their cover version (Hurt My Eyes Open vs. Held My Nose Open). Brown Eyed Women is an uptempo smoker. It was great in '79, and a SBD would put this version in its proper historical place. The send-out to half is average, although Supplication as the end cap still seems odd (it happened a few times in early '79, rather than followed by Deal).

Second Set. The Scarlet is best for Donna lovers, but the Fire on the Mountain is absolutely sparkling. On the then-new album, it was new to the punters. Samson is incredibly dynamic and may be the best version of '79. The tempos are great for the next few but the jams are not the most inspired. The lack of Space is odd by early '79 (although 1/12 has Space first. and there are a handful of others in '79 sans Space). The rest is pretty good, with a swell The Other One and a nice Good Lovin'. Wharf has its moments too, but U.S. Blues is the big shot, with Garcia's explosive soloing more than making up for Bobby's Slide Practice™, and sending 'em home excited.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: B
Overall = 3¾ stars

Highlights:
Me & My Uncle>Big River - always different, always the same
Brown Eyed Women - uptempo smoker
Fire on the Mountain - sparkler
Samson & Delilah - maybe the best of '79
U.S. Blues - Jer has a moment

SOURCES: The nak300-wagner_miller_87657 was an improvement, with slightly better separation and image over the glyde_10283, which runs slightly fast. (This is Bob Wagner's pre-tape-section AUD from his Sony Pro deck and Nakamichi shotguns). There is no SBD, so this one's for those that earn their notes.

on set 2....

I can see Charlie's enjoyment of this one, and I quite like Donna's contribution on Track 12.

Woke up this morning and thought "35 years ago I was at this show".

I was 18 and living in northern NJ. This show was in the middle of a run of 6 consecutive shows that I was fortunate to attend. For me, it started in Philly, then 2 nights at the Garden 2 nights at the Nassau Coliseum and then back to Philly. These were all part of the "make up" tour because the tour in Nov 78 got cancelled.

I loved this show. I thought I heard a hint of Dark Star after The Other One/before WR while I was at the show (or maybe it was just wishful thinking). It is interesting that if you play TOO track it actually goes on past the 7:57 listed. Sure enough, Dark Star came out on 1-10-79 (which was my favorite of this run).

This is a very solid show. Great (but not spectacular) set list. Definitely worth listening to.

I prefer Soundboards over AUD so this recording is just OK. However, I really appreciate the time and effort put into taping, transferring and posting this show. A heart felt thanks to all those involved.

"When Charlie Miller cites a second set as his favorite, you have sit up and take notice."

Sure I'm biased because this was my first show, 34 years ago today, but I will go on record as saying that anyone who does not get IT from this show and recording does not get IT.

The energy level at this show was phenomenal! The band was playing with grace and authority, riding the waves of NYC energy to the heights of musical inspiration. The second set is Epic, a glittering example of the Grateful Dead being played by the music they make, Ouroborus eating it's own tale and the ever unfolding vortex of psychedelic rightness.

And if you understand deep in your soul what I'm saying, you will understand the climactic power of The United States Blues.

When Charlie Miller cites a second set as his favorite, you have sit up and take notice. I am sure this was a fun show to see -- it is a great set list and the music is crackling with energy.

That said, after listening to Donna in the Scarlet transition I found myself imagining Garcia muttering to himself "we need to fire her," and sure enough she was dismissed not long after. Also Jerry's voice was noticeably weak to the point that it took away from the overall show quality.

Bottom line for me, this is a fun listen but it wouldn't make my top ten list and I am not sure I understand Charlie's adoration for this particular show.

Headphones and close your eyes. very; very good music here from the Grateful Dead.

Maybe the best scatting I've heard from Donna during the jam before Fire. First set solid, but not special. Second set better, but again not really special. Can't call this a good AUD.

This is my favorite 2nd set. I just love everything about it.

you ain't the only one!!!!!!!

There are quite a few spectacular moments in this show, including the end of 1/2 Step, Supplication, Scarlet>Fire, Samson, and Wharf Rat. In fact, pretty much the whole second set kills. A strong performance for that period. The sound is OK - a bit too much crowd noise.

These were the first shows the Dead played at MSG. To me, it's all about remembering what it was like in that big hall in NYC in the middle of the Winter. Also one of the last times I saw Keith and Donna. I'm still a big fan of the 1976 to early 1979 period. The sound could be better but it sounded like this when you were in there too. Thanks for the memories and the dedication to post all of these great shows.

Hi, I am a huge fan of 78-early 79, a huge fan of 1/2 step>franklins, a huge fan of scarlet>fires, but this is really just an average show and a microphone that is just too far back in the crowd. Still, there is a cool riff towards the end of 1/2 step that reflects the wrenching emotions that Jerry expressed with his guitar in this era, and the Scarlet is nice, but aside from that I'm not really that impressed by this show's performance, and I'm especially disappointed with the source quality. Why?

In general, AUD is good, CROWD is bad. With AUD, you get big drums, strong Phil, Jerry gets some natural reverb. With CROWD, you just can't hear the music.

For a similar-style show with good performances and a much less crowd-y aud, try 12-19-78 or 12-16-78 or 2-03-79.

this is a huge upgrade and its done by charlie miller and that should tell you something, the second set has to be the best/gratest set ever played by the boys and from the first song mississippi half step they are on fire, jerry's voice is a little rough around the edges but his guitar work and his explosive leads make up for all that, this show is a SMOKER and is and has been my favorite show by/from the boys since i first got the tape some years ago, have to give the show a 5 on the rating but i would give it a ten if i could, if anything just check out the second set and the mississippi half step from the first set, well just do yourself a favor nd listen to it all the way through and just like any other grateful dead show it should be played as loud as possible, especialy with this show, you just dont get the full experience of this showif it is not played loud and trust me there is a difference or listen to it with your head phones on , DO NOT PASS THIS ONE UP !!!!! THANK YOU CHARLIE FOR ALL THE GRATE MUSIC YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO US AND FOR PUTTING A SMILE ON MY FACE EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF YOUR NEW SEED/SOURCES BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WOULD EVEN PUT IT OUT IF IT WASNT BETTER THAN WHATS ALREADY OUT THERE. also thanks to the grateful dead for so many years of touring and letting us all have all this music to share and listen for so many more years to come, should have bought some stock in one of the hard drive companies...... hahahahaha what are you still reading this for and not already begining the download or the stream !!!!